Overview

If you love finding trends, patterns and valuable information hidden inside complicated data sets, our MA Data Analytics degree course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.

On this course, you'll develop your technological and technical abilities, and take your previous studies and experience to postgraduate level. You'll master data mining tools, unlock specialist knowledge, and apply both to analyse real data from our research in cosmology, health informatics and cybersecurity.

You'll plan and produce an in-depth research project too, and we'll provide the expertise and support so you can develop your professional practice. And once you graduate, you'll have a skillset that'll get you noticed – and all the tools you need for a career in data analytics or deep learning.

Make use of our multi-platform network suites and extensive laboratory facilities, which include a mobile computing lab to develop Android and iOS apps, usability lab with eye tracking equipment and a forensics lab

Manage and understand the business value that can be extracted from data sets

Learn from academic staff with relevant experience in the field, including research and consultancy

[Before this course] I knew about mathematics, statistics and data analysis tools, but I didn’t have the skills to deal with Big Data. I looked for the right degree to get these skills [and] the University Of Portsmouth was the choice that suited my aspirations and needs.

Chaimaa Ibnoucheikh, MSc Data Analytics

Work experience and career planning

We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your data analytics skills to work.

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Careers and opportunities

You'll graduate from this course with enhanced skills in data science and analytics. You'll know how to extract the most valuable information from data sets with mixed attributes, and you'll be an expert in new techniques and technologies in the field, making you highly employable.

Career opportunities include:

Senior data scientist

Data architect

Data officer

Information strategist

PhD research

We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.

Entry requirements​

Entry Requirements

Qualifications or experience

A first or a second class honours degree in a relevant subject or a degree with relevant experience, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.

English language requirements

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional units may not run every year. If a unit doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative unit.

Learning support

As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

academic writing

note taking

time management

critical thinking

presentation skills

referencing

working in groups

revision, memory and exam techniques

Teaching​

Teaching on this course includes:

lectures

tutorials

lab sessions

How you'll spend your time

Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:

September to December – teaching block 1

January – assessment period 1

January to May – teaching block 2 (includes Easter break)

May to June – assessment period 2

Most teaching takes place during the day, on Thursdays, Fridays and very occasionally on Saturdays. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.

Apply

International students

If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.